Team Bury youngsters making big impression

Guy Hayes admits it has been quite a learning curve for his young Team Bury side this season but is pleased with how they have progressed so far.

The Blues, currently 14th in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division table, can eclipse last season’s points tally with a win at Whitton United tomorrow (3pm).

Hayes took over as manager during the summer and oversaw his best result in charge so far on Tuesday night, beating higher-league Godmanchester Rovers on penalties in the Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup at Ram Meadow.

It was the second win for the Blues on penalties this season, having knocked out Downham Town in the First Division Knockout Cup on spot kicks back in September.

“It was our second clean sheet of the season and we created chances, especially in the second half,” the Bury boss said.

“We had a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old as the two centre-backs and two 18-year-olds as full-backs and I thought they all did really well.

“The team are buying into what we want to do and are sticking together and are working hard for each other.

“It’s been quite a learning curve for the players going from college football to senior football.

“We’re now starting to get the squad back to full strength and we’ve almost doubled the amount of wins compared to last season. We played Haverhill Borough a few weeks ago and got a good win against them, so the boys are showing they can compete with some of the better teams in the league.”

Team Bury are set to be boosted by the signing of recently-released Ipswich Town youngster Josh Revell.

The striker, who turned 16 on Monday, has featured for Bury Town’s Under-18s this season and is in line to make his debut for Hayes’ side.

n Mildenhall Town opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier Division on Saturday.

Luke Parkinson was the star of the show as he notched a hat-trick to help the Hall to a 4-0 home victory over Swaffham Town.

On Tuesday, Dean Greygoose’s men started their defence of the League Challenge Cup by thrashing neighbours Thetford Town 6-0.

Mildenhall travel to The New Croft to take on seventh-placed Haverhill Rovers tomorrow (3pm).

n Thetford (ninth) will be aiming to end their recent losing run when they host fourth place Newmarket Town tomorrow (3pm).

The Brecklanders slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat in the league at Godmanchester Rovers on Saturday, before losing to Mildenhall in the League Challenge Cup this week.

n Walsham-le-Willows (15th) recorded an excellent 2-1 win against Felixstowe and Walton United at the weekend.

Paul Smith’s side, who beat First Division Whitton United 3-2 in the League Challenge Cup on Wednesday evening, host 11th-placed Wivenhoe Town at Summer Road tomorrow (3pm).